The territorial police in KMP continue to investigate the case of aggravated robbery and other related offences that occurred at the home of Sulaiman Lumolo Mafabi and his wife Amb Barbara Nekesa Oundo.
The offence took place on December 5, 2023, at Kyeitabya zone, Bukasa parish, Makindye division, Kampala District.
The couple had money kept in dollars and shillings in their house, which PC Michael Wango, having stayed at the residence as a home guard for more than one and a half years, came to know about.
As a result, he hatched a plan with two other police officers, including Sgt. Dominic Idro, PC Sharif Mugoya, and Edgar Arinda, alias Watson, and Rogers Niwagaba.
According to police spokesperson Fred Enanga, the mission was executed by four mentioned police operatives.
PC Wango reportedly disabled the alarm system, controlled and monitored by the guards, at the main gate security sentry room. He also disconnected the electric wires mounted on top of the perimeter wall, as well as the security lights around the area he had earmarked for entry. He further adjusted the CCTV cameras to avoid capturing footage in the direction his accomplices would use them.
At around 10 p.m., his accomplices, PC Mugoya, together with Arinda alias Watson and Palaso (who replaced Niwagabaa), gained entry into the compound and laid in wait till 4am. They inflicted controlled injuries on PC Wango’s head, picked up the two rifles in his possession, and thereafter, proceeded to the servants’ quarters, where they forced the three maids to open the main house. After gaining entry into the main house, the suspects broke the four doors inside the house.
They traced and located Amb Nekesa from her hiding place and threatened to harm her, and she led them to the bedroom, where they kept their money. Her husband was not at home. The suspects accessed the money in Ugandan shillings and carried their loot in five bags.
They escaped through the small gate with five bags of cash: an iPhone, a 12 Promax, a golden ring, a DVR for the CCTV system, a Techno Spark 9 smart phone, and a Huawei 19 mobile phone. They also disappeared with the two police guns and 60 rounds of ammunition, which PC Mugoya abandoned in a potato garden, 200 metres away from the residence.
They proceeded and hid in a banana plantation, where their rider, Josh Kalinda found them. They had in their possession three bags, after two other bags were hurriedly dropped, in the banana plantation when they saw a local security guard advancing towards them with a torch. PC Mugoya and Arinda boarded one motorcycle to Nsambya barracks with two bags of cash, while Palaso boarded another motorcycle and disappeared from his accomplices with a bag containing an unspecified amount of money.
The victim reported a robbery of cash worth Shs41 million that was hers while Shs2.2 billion was the money was reportedly stolen from Lumolo’s safe. The total amount stolen from the home was Shs2,241,000,000.
Distribution of money
After a successful loot, the operative settled for distribution and this was was evidenced by the recovery of money from their homes. Shs220 million was kept for PC Wango (out of which 20 million was reserved to secure his bail) in case he is charged to court. It was handed over to his uncle, Emmanuel Basooma, who travelled from Budongo village in Namutumba District to Nsambya barracks.
While Edgar Arinda was given Shs200 million as the boda-boda rider was given Shs20 million; Sgt. Dominic Idro who did not participate, was given Shs8.8 million. Mugoya kept for himself Shs230 million.
It was further established that on December 10, 2023, one Samuel Opio Obote, a 60-year-old casual labourer, while grazing goats for his boss, Matiya Rulangwa, at Kyeyitabya village, picked up an unspecified amount of money along with an empty bag and a CT police uniform.
He kept it in a container and started spending it lavishly. His boss, Matiya Rulangwa, and one Masembe also picked up some of the money. For Opio, he handed the balance to Patrick Apunyo as they escaped and hid in Lugazi.
Arrests
At least 12 suspects arrested were charged as follows:
PC Michael Wango, Edgar Arimda alias Watson, PC Sharif Mugoya, Emmanuel Basooma, and Rogers Niwagaba. Opio, Amuel Obote, and Matiya Rulangwa were charged with four counts of aggravated robbery.
Joseph Ssempanga, alias Mulwma, Moses Nyiro, and Patrick Apunyo. were charged with receiving and retaining suspected stolen property, and then Sgt. Idro was charged for being an accessory after the theft.
All 12 suspects appeared before the Chief Magistrates Court, Makindye, and were remanded until January 25, 2024, for further mention of the case. The mission was hatched two weeks before the robbery.
Efforts are now in place to locate one Palaso and other accomplices, who are still at large, to trace the assets bought with proceeds from the crime.
